Game apparatus.



L. .J. GRAPE.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24,1914.

1, 1 22,5 Patnted Dec. 29, 1914,

2 SHBBTS-SHEBT 1.

' WITNESSES a "4, ATTORNEY,

HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTD-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D C.

L. J. GRAPE.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION rum) MAR.24,1914.

Patented Dec. 29,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR AITTORNEY' I THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHGTO-LITHQ. WASHINCI' ON; D. C.

2%.. men.

LOUIS J'- GR AFF, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I PatentedDec. 29, 1914.

Application filed March 24, 1914. Serial No. 826,851.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS J. Qnnrrya citizen of the United States, and, residing in the city of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvanla, have 1nvented or discovered new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the'following is a specificatlon.

My invention consists of anew and improved game-board adapted for both pool and billiards and variations of the same or any game in which spherical objects are used.

The game-board is reversible and intended to be laid upon a table or other temporary support, one side of sald board being provided with pockets for pool and other pocket games while the other side of the board has a continuous cushion for b11- liards or other cushion games. While the board may be of any desired contour, as rectangular, I prefer the hexagonal shape shown. I show, a novel corner and pocket construction, andalso a novel scoring device to be used in connection with the board.

Other novel features of structure and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which are intended merely to illustrate the prlnciples of my invention and not to limit the same to the structures shown, Figure l 1s a plan View of my improved game-board with the pool face up; Fig. 2 is a simllar view of the board reversed with the billiard face up; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in plan of the corner construct on shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4c is a cross-section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a simllar view along the line VV in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showlng a rectangular corner construction.

The following is a detailed descrlption of the drawings, reference being first had to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The board 1n 1ts preferable form is hexagonal having a pool face A, Fig. 1, with a pocket at each corner of the rail, and a billiard face B, Fig. 2, with a continuous rail. The body 1 of the board may be of any desired material and construction but I prefer the laminated wooden structure shown. 2 is the edge formed of a continuous wooden strip with rounded edges and mitered together corners. The playing surface of the face A is defined by the mile 3*- whose ends are spaced apart pockets.

and 3 .The front edge of the pocket cavity between the ends of the rails 3 is preferably convex and: the material of said body is beveled downwardlyalong said edge from the face A as at 6. The faces A and B are covered with billiard cloth 7. The pocket 8 is composed of cloth or similar material folded or doubled over a stout metal plate or frame 9 bent to form the contour of the pocket, the mouth or entrance of the pocket being formed by the open front of the frame 9. The sides of said frame are secured to the ends of the rails? and to the edges of the body 1 while the rear of the frame fits into the angle of the edge 2'and is secured to said edge. Said frame extends to the level of the top of rails 3 to give the proper pocket height. The bottom of the 'pocket cloth 8 is secured to the rails 23 thus closing the bottom of the pocket. It is thus seen that while the pockets efiiciently perform the function of receiving the balls shot into the same, the corners of the board are well face B are not impaired in any way.

In Fig. 6 I have shown my pocket structure applied to a rectangular board, the construction being substantially the same.

My arrangement of pocket structures is not only convenient but by placing the pockets outside of the rails I am enabled to make the billiard rails and cushions continuous and do not require the use of temporary blocks or inserts in the corners. At the same time I do not need to space the billiard board or face from the pool board or face to provide clearance for the pool As a convenient device for keeping the score of the game, I provide a member (3' having a scale of points marked on its face and formed by bending or folding up a strip of sheet metal into the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 5. The bottom face of member C is provided with one or more studs which are adapted to fit into holes 10 in the body 1 between the edge 2 and the rails. Thus the scoring device is re movably mounted on either the face A or B, according to which is being used. A

scoring device for each player or side is preferably provided.

11 is a sliding pointer associated with the member C and mounted on a slide 12 which is inserted within the interior of said member, said slide being provided with a hump 13 which contacts with the wall of said member and frictionally holds the pointer against accidental movement.

What I desire to claim is 1. A reversible playing board of the character described comprising a single solid double faced playing surface, one of said faces being for billiards and similar games while the reverse face is for pool and similar games, said first face being provided with cushioned rails connecting at their angles and spaced inwardly from the edge of the board, while the reverse face is provided with cushioned rails likewise spaced inwardly from the edge of the board and spaced apart at their angles to form pocket entrances, the pocket apertures being cut entirely through said board outside of both sets of said rails.

2. A reversible playing board of the character described comprising a single solid double faced playing surface, one of said faces being for billiards and similar games while the reverse face is for pool and similar games, said first face being provided with cushioned rails connecting at their angles and spaced inwardly from the edge of the board, while the reverse face is provided with cushioned rails likewise spaced inwardly from the edge of the board and spaced apart at their angle to form pocket entrances, the pocket apertures being cut entirely through said board outside of both sets of rails, and pockets secured in said apertures and depending through the same from said last mentioned surface.

3. A reversible playing board of the char acter described comprising a single solid double faced playing surface surrounded by a solid raised edge border, one of said faces being for billiards and similar games while the reverse face is for pool and similiar games, said first face being provided with cushioned rails spaced inwardly from said border connecting at their angles, while the reverse face is provided with cushioned rails likewise spaced inwardly from said border and spaced apart at their angles to form pocket entrances, the pocket apertures being cut entirely through said board between said border and said rails, metal frames secured to said border and the ends of said pool rails, and pockets suspended from said frame and depending through said apertures.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Penna, this 21st day of March, 1914.

, LOUIS J. GRAFF.

"Witnesses EDWARD A. LAWRENCE, JOHN MoKnLvin.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. 

